Lobularia plant named &#39;DLOBU20&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Lobularia  cultivar named ‘DLOBU20’ is disclosed, characterized by long lasting light yellow-cream colored flowers. The new variety produces a very semi-trailing habit and is freely branching and strongly structured. The new variety is a  Lobularia,  normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Lobularia maritima

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DLOBU20’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Lobularia cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Lobularia varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The open pollination resulting in this new variety was made during May of 2010.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Lobularia maritima ‘AY-10-177’ The pollen parent is unknown as it was an open pollination breeding program. The new variety was discovered in March of 2011 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2010 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetative cuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel during March of 2011 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DLOBU20’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLOBU20’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLOBU20’ as a new and distinct Lobularia cultivar:

-   1. Semi-trailing habit. -   2. Long lasting flowers. -   3. Free branching -   4. Strong plant structure. -   5. Flowers have a light yellow, cream color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLOBU20’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Lobularia maritima ‘AY-10-177’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DLOBU20’ produce a light yellow colored flower compared to the white flower color of seed parent ‘AY-10-177’. ‘DLOBU20’ is also more floriferous than seed parent ‘AY-10-177’. Additionally ‘DLOBU20’ produces a bushier, denser plant habit than seed parent ‘AY-10-177’.

Commercial Comparison

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLOBU20’ are comparable to the variety Lobularia ‘Snow Princess’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,594. The two Lobularia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DLOBU20’ differs in producing a semi-trailing and bushier plant, yet less vigorous plant compared to ‘Snow Princess’. ‘DLOBU20’ produces smaller leaves and flowers, as well as a shorter and tighter inflorescence than comparator ‘Snow Princess’. Additionally, plants of ‘DLOBU20’ are not sterile, as are flowers of the comparator ‘Snow Princess’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DLOBU20’ are comparable to the unpatented commercial variety Lobularia ‘Alyssum Wonderland Citron’ The two Lobularia varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety ‘DLOBU20’ differs in producing a semi-trailing plant habit, and larger flowers as well as spreading faster than the comparator ‘Alyssum Wonderland Citron’. Additionally, ‘DLOBU20’ flowers over a longer period than the comparator ‘Alyssum Wonderland Citron’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DLOBU20’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 8 weeks from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DLOBU20’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DLOBU20’ plants grown in a greenhouse during Autumn to Spring in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 9° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are high light levels of 60,000 to 90,000 lux. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Lobularia maritima ‘DLOBU20’ -   Propagation: -   Typical propagation material: Vegetative cuttings -   Time to rooting: 14 to 20 days at approximately 16° C. -   Root description: Thin, fibrous, freely branching. Near White group     RHS 155C in color. -   Plant: -   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 weeks. -   Growth habit: Semi trailing. -   Height: Approximately 16 cm. -   Plant spread: Approximately 28 cm (radius) -   Growth rate: Medium, fast growing -   Branching characteristics: Freely Branching. -   Approximate quantity of lateral branches: Approximately 8-10 primary     lateral branches and numerous secondary and tertiary lateral     branches. -   Length of lateral branches: Approximately 28 cm. -   Diameter of lateral branches: Approximately 0.3 cm. -   Texture of lateral branches: Slightly Pubescent. -   Lateral branch shape: Hexagonal in cross section. -   Lateral branch strength: Strong, flexible. -   Lateral branch color: Approximately Yellow-green group RHS 144A -   Internode length: 2 cm (average) -   Number of leaves per lateral branch: Average 24. -   Age of plant described: Approximately 8 weeks. -   Foliage: -   Leaf:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Shape of blade.—Oblanceolate.         -   Average length.—Approximately 4-4.5 cm. ((Mature foliage —             5-6 cm).         -   Average width.—Approximately 0.8 cm. (Mature foliage — 1             cm).         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Cuncate.         -   Attachment.—Sessile.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture of top surface.—Slightly Pubescent.         -   Texture of bottom surface.—Slightly Pubescent.         -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near Green group RHS 137A             Young foliage under side: Near Green group RHS137B Mature             foliage upper side: Near Green group RHS 137B Mature foliage             under side: Near Green group RHS137C.         -   Venation.—Pinnate, indistinguishable from foliage. -   Petiole: Not present. -   Flower: -   Bloom period:     -   -   Natural season.—Long flowering period. From March through             December is Israel.         -   In commercial production, flowering begins from a rooted             cutting in.—Approximately 4 weeks. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Arrangement.—Panicle.         -   Height.—Approximately 11 cm.         -   Width.—Approximately 3 cm.         -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 60 (30             open flowers). -   Bud:     -   -   Bud shape.—Globose spherical.         -   Bud length.—Approximately 1.5 mm.         -   Bud diameter.—Approximately 1 mm.         -   Bud color.—Near Green group RHS 143A.         -   Rate of opening.—Individual flowers: Fully open             approximately 3 days from the bud stage. -   Individual flower:     -   -   Type of individual flowers.—Single flower.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Approximately 60             flowers and buds per inflorescence — more than 2000 flowers             per plant.         -   Diameter of entire flower.—Approximately 0.7-0.8 cm.         -   Depth of flower.—Approximately less than 1 mm.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—Approximately 5 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.         -   Fragrance.—Sweet, honey like. -   Petals:     -   -   Length of petal.—Approximately 3.5 mm.         -   Width of petal.—Approximately 4 mm.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Base.—Reniform.         -   Shape of petal.—Oval.         -   Petal margin.—Entire.         -   Petal arrangement.—4 petals fused in a single whorl.         -   Petal number.—4 petals.         -   Petal appearance.—Matte.         -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Color:     -   -   Upper surface at first opening.—Near Yellow group RHS 2D.         -   Upper surface at maturity.—Near Yellow group RHS 4D.         -   Upper surface at fading.—Near Yellow group RHS 4D.         -   Under surface at first opening.—Near Yellow group RHS 8D.         -   Under surface at maturity.—Near Yellow group RHS 4D.         -   Under surface at fading.—Near Yellow group RHS 4D. -   Petaloids or other floral structures: Not present. -   Sepal:     -   -   Number.—4.         -   Sepal appearance.—4 sepals.         -   Sepal arrangement.—4 sepals in a single whorl.         -   Sepal length.—Approximately 1 mm.         -   Sepal width.—Approximately 0.6 mm.         -   Sepal shape.—Elliptic.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Apex shape.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Color.—Near Green group RHS 143A. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1.7-2 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 2 mm.         -   Angle.—Not relevant.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-green group RHS 144A. -   Pedicel:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 1 cm.         -   Diameter.—Approximately 0.5 mm.         -   Angle.—Approximately 80-90 degrees.         -   Color.—Near Yellow-green group RHS 144A.         -   Strength.—Flexible, moderately strong. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Number of pistils per flower.—1.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately less than 1 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Rounded to broadly spreading.         -   Stigma color.—Near Yellow-green group RHS 144B.         -   Style color.—Near Yellow-green group RHS 144B.         -   Style length.—Approximately 1 mm.         -   Ovary color.—Near Yellow-green group RHS 144C.         -   Stamens quantity.—6.         -   Stamen length.—2 mm.         -   Anther shape.—Elliptic.         -   Anther size.—0.5 mm.         -   Anther color.—Near Yellow group RHS 7B.         -   Pollen color.—Near Yellow group RHS 7A.         -   Pollen quantity.—Moderate. -   Other characteristics: -   Disease resistance: Common to cultivar. -   Drought tolerance and cold tolerance: Plants of the new Lobularia     have been noted to have good tolerance at temperatures from 1° C. to     38° C. and also in rain and wind conditions. -   Fruit/seed production: Color and Shape of Fruits and Seeds : The     fruits and Seeds are elliptical and flat. The color of the mature     seed is near Grey-brown group RHS N199B. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Lobularia plant named ‘DLOBU20’ as herein illustrated and described. 